Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Not this year for To’o, I’d wait until the end of the season. We have enough wingers, but in a position we need maybe now.
If we can manage it i’d rather him have to rot on his min contract for a while longer than walking straight on to a mill. That’s why he’s doing all this.
Anyway we need to be make sure everyone else thinks we can afford to keep him on min in reggies till end of 26, and still win games or we’ll loose the hand.

Don't think we need him B, if Taylan lands our way and Makasini lives up to the hype think we have enough in the backs for a while.

 

[gregjm87]

The entire reason I responded was that you said -

'our yardage sets remain problematic'.

What is a 'yardage set' then?

We're 2nd in post contact metres and 5th in all run metres.

To'o (who is also injured atm- your current criticism of Skelton) would be great.

But our current side IS working as a pack. Extremely well. Especially considering their age/perceived quality. It doesnt mean we can't still upgrade, but you upgrade in areas of need, especially when you've likely got options as to who you receive in return.

You wanna go Penrith? Cool, they can have a quote 'generational talent', we'll have Liam Martin, thanks.

I assume you got those stats from NRL.com. Weirdly, if you look at Fox Sports stats they have us dead last for average run metres and conceding the 3rd most average run metres. I didn't expect us to be statistically anywhere near this bad but I think it is a more accurate reflection than 5th in all run metres.

 

[user118245]

I assume you got those stats from NRL.com. Weirdly, if you look at Fox Sports stats they have us dead last for average run metres and conceding the 3rd most average run metres. I didn't expect us to be statistically anywhere near this bad but I think it is a more accurate reflection than 5th in all run metres.

Fox sports is 2024 stats stupidly

 

[tiger_one]

I know Jimmy Graham is always strongly against the Tigers, but I watched him speak about this for like 30minutes without even considering Latu. Making a huge fuss about how it's another 10 steps back for Tigers etc... shows how much he has a clue... and generally, I'm a fan of his.

Both Brandon Smith and his co-host were very much in the 'no big loss' camp.

Sometimes, James Graham bites off more than he can chew. 😉

 

[gregjm87]

Fox sports is 2024 stats stupidly

Lol, didn't realise, just google NRL stats and read them. That makes sense why we rank so much worse than I thought we would.

 

[Leichhardt_Logger]

Liam Martin would be so damn perfect for this team.

Or Haumole 😍 I dreamt May here, I'll dream of Haumole now

 

[ATown]

I’m all for giving Latu the next crack….however, it’s not a slam dunk on paper. Both he and Luai are 5/8’s. They’re both left side players and they’re both left footed. Hopefully they can work it out, but it’s not exactly an ideal partnership. I worry neither of them have strong enough kicking games or the ability to steer the team around the park.

We need a legitimate, high quality halfback. Someone like DCE (unlikely) or Fogarty would actually be a way better fit. Reynolds has been discussed and would be a great fit, worries about his fitness of course. But we’re instantly a vastly superior team with him at 7.

I love Latu’s attitude so I really want to give him a crack, but it needs to be pointed out there are legitimate concerns and if a quality halfback comes becomes available it would have to be seriously considered.

 

[king_sirro]

I’m all for giving Latu the next crack….however, it’s not a slam dunk on paper. Both he and Luai are 5/8’s. They’re both left side players and they’re both left footed. Hopefully they can work it out, but it’s not exactly an ideal partnership. I worry neither of them have strong enough kicking games or the ability to steer the team around the park.

We need a legitimate, high quality halfback. Someone like DCE (unlikely) or Fogarty would actually be a way better fit. Reynolds has been discussed and would be a great fit, worries about his fitness of course. But we’re instantly a vastly superior team with him at 7.

I love Latu’s attitude so I really want to give him a crack, but it needs to be pointed out there are legitimate concerns and if a quality halfback comes becomes available it would have to be seriously considered.

Latu is right footed and while he has played mostly left as a junior like you say, he looks very comfortable on the right. His ability to play straight and deep into the line is essential to our future success

 

[liltiger]

That, my friends, is a clubman. The type of player we want at Wests Tigers. A 19 year old who appreciates the opportunity he has to be part of something special. I think the club comes out of this way better off. We just need him to stay on the field for a prolonged stretch.

If he is genuine and not just saying what he thinks people want to hear, he could be a franchise type player who we can build around .

 

[Tito Santana]

Latu Fainu for Pres!

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

Yeah I listened too and agree. He can’t hear anything outside of his inital one second analysis.

poor old Graham's podcasts are a joke
pass

 

[Aceshigh]

But he’s looking for similar money to what Penrith wouldn’t give Luai

Its not about money remember 😂

 

[Kelce68]

I assume you got those stats from NRL.com. Weirdly, if you look at Fox Sports stats they have us dead last for average run metres and conceding the 3rd most average run metres. I didn't expect us to be statistically anywhere near this bad but I think it is a more accurate reflection than 5th in all run metres.

Yes, from NRL.com, who would be the authority I'd say.

I don't understand how those stats could be so wildly different though.

 

[Tim Sheens]

MUST READ ... gives me goosebumps!

‘I’m ready’: Latu Fainu ready to make Galvin’s No.6 jersey his own

ByAdrian Proszenko
April 16, 2025 — 3.45pm

Latu Fainu has declared himself ready to step into Lachlan Galvin’s No.6 jersey, believing coach Benji Marshall’s guidance will help fulfil his ambition of becoming Jarome Luai’s long-time halves partner.

Galvin’s future at the club has become clouded after his decision not to entertain a lucrative contract extension in the belief Marshall couldn’t take his game to the next level. At the urging of senior players, Marshall dropped Galvin to NSW Cup.

Phil Gould has labelled the situation “untenable” and predicts there is no way Galvin will see out the remainder of his Tigers contract, which expires at the end of 2026.

Whether Galvin moves on now or later, Fainu is considered the playmaker most likely to fill the void. Currently unavailable due to a hand injury that will likely sideline him for a further three weeks, Fainu has made 11 NRL appearances to date, predominantly off the bench.

However, the 19-year-old believes he is ready to play alongside Luai and make the No.6 jersey his own.

“100 per cent. If [Galvin] is not there, I’m ready,” Fainu said. “I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make this team better. For me, if it means getting that six role, I’m all in.

“When I first came to Wests Tigers, they brought me to play in the halves. That’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. That’s the position I’ve been playing my whole career, since I started playing footy. I feel most comfortable there, I feel I can add more value to the team as a half.

“Whatever the team needs, I’m all in. I love the club.”

While Galvin says he can’t play his best football under Marshall, Fainu believes the former premiership-winning pivot is the perfect person to guide his career.

“Obviously, he has helped me so much on and off the field,” Fainu said of Marshall.

“He was a great player and is a great coach for me. He makes me comfortable in the side and makes me play my best.

“Honestly, when he joins our sessions, I just watch him. When he trains, you get a feel for the mix of how he wants to play and how I want to play. I just want to play like him.

“Whatever the team needs, I’m all in. I love the club.”

“He knows what is best for me as a player. He has given me and my brothers a debut in the NRL. I’m truly grateful to have him as my coach.”

Like Galvin, Fainu was dubbed as the next big thing while coming through the junior ranks. In late 2021, when he was still 16 and at Manly, Fainu signed the biggest contract ever for a player yet to reach NRL level.

When he switched to the Tigers, where he played alongside Galvin in the lower grades, it was Fainu who wore the coveted No.6 jersey.

“He was playing at fullback and then switched to second row when he was playing with me,” Fainu recalled.

The Guilford product said he was keen to play as much football alongside four-time premiership-winning playmaker Luai as possible.

“He’s a great role model, especially for me as a half,” the Tongan international said of Luai. “He knows what he’s doing in on-field situations, but off field he knows what to bring with the culture of the team. He’s just a great person to be around.

“I’m trying to learn as much as I can off him. As much as I want to play this week, I know that I’m injured.

“In talking to Jarome Luai, he’s keeping me up to date and encourages me to take control and play halves with him.”

Fainu said the prospect of playing behind a pack that included Terrell May, Fonua Pole, Alex Twal and Royce Hunt was an exciting one.

“100 per cent, they make our jobs easier,” he said.

“They get to our spots quicker, it makes it so much easier for all of our spine, especially me, Api [Koroisau], Jarome and Jahream [Bula].”

Fainu has already achieved his ambition of playing alongside his brothers Sione and Samuela - who are in the side for the Easter Monday clash against Parramatta - at the Tigers. Now he hopes they get to add to the tally.

“That’s the only thing we want for each other, to play first grade,” he said.

“To continue to play first grade at Tigers, that would be a dream come true.

“It means a lot, they are the only team that trusted us to all play together at the same club.”

The best part for mine is the bit that is missing. That being that this attitude is there after being called out for turning up to pre-season having not met his individual requirements.

He didn't kick stones, rather he took the criticism constructively and improved his performance.

 

[boonboon]

I’m all for giving Latu the next crack….however, it’s not a slam dunk on paper. Both he and Luai are 5/8’s. They’re both left side players and they’re both left footed. Hopefully they can work it out, but it’s not exactly an ideal partnership. I worry neither of them have strong enough kicking games or the ability to steer the team around the park.

We need a legitimate, high quality halfback. Someone like DCE (unlikely) or Fogarty would actually be a way better fit. Reynolds has been discussed and would be a great fit, worries about his fitness of course. But we’re instantly a vastly superior team with him at 7.

I love Latu’s attitude so I really want to give him a crack, but it needs to be pointed out there are legitimate concerns and if a quality halfback comes becomes available it would have to be seriously considered.

We have a genuine right side half with a big long and high kicking game playing halfback this weekend.

Wouldn't shock me to see Douehi lock himself in as the half for the next couple of years while Fainu develops his body and his experience

 

[WesternSuburbsBoy]

Not sure if it’s been mentioned here but

Does anyone remember when we signed Luai that the panthers said we could have him early if we released Galvin ?

Tigers said no we can wait & we want to keep Lachie

Also remember late last year Brian To’o asked for a release from the Panthers , presumably to come to us and panthers wouldn’t give him a release .

So currently panthers need a 6 to partner Cleary

It might make sense for a To’o / Galvin swap to occur now

Not trying to be dick but pretty sure none of those things happened 😂😂

 

[crazycat]

Not sure if it’s been mentioned here but

Does anyone remember when we signed Luai that the panthers said we could have him early if we released Galvin ?

Tigers said no we can wait & we want to keep Lachie

Also remember late last year Brian To’o asked for a release from the Panthers , presumably to come to us and panthers wouldn’t give him a release .

So currently panthers need a 6 to partner Cleary

It might make sense for a To’o / Galvin swap to occur now

A little dubious... but ok..

We trade out Galvin now -> makes sense.

We get To'o, to replace who
Turuva or Skelton? Two wingers who have done damn awesomely for our club.
Or do we put him in the center where we have Naden coming back from injury, Staines we are trying to punt to the uk??

To'o may make a really good center, but it's still in the air and there is a possibility of Taylan May joining... (remote but possible). I would rather see To'o at lock or something, would be a massive re-training but his speed would make things interesting.

Ofcourse Brian To'o isn't coming here.

Looking at Penrith, there are definately forwards we could sign. We could bring Garner back, surely though for Galvin we could do better.

 

[BZN]

BWP time to start playing fair! At the end of the day we all hope that Wests Tigers continue to win footy games and the club put the Wooden Spoons way way in the past.

Playing fair...I like the sound of that.

 

[BZN]

It might be old school, but in my opinion you need to stand for something or you stand for nothing.

Ah yes, Galvin—the messiah. Clearly the only thing standing between us and a premiership. I mean, he was at the club last year when we came stone motherless last, but let’s ignore that minor detail. Forget the new recruits actually making a difference. Let’s pin our hopes on a bloke who won't even review our offer and has alienated himwelf from the playing group and coach. Makes total sense.

You stand for something or you stand for nothing...great words!

 

[BZN]

Welcome to the WTF GCTiger.

I like the fact that Fanua Pole is doing that.

There is something special at the Tigers.

If so, what is it?